London High Court hearing told of rival proposals to resolve acrimonious
dispute over the future of singer's 15-year-old son with Guy Ritchie

Madonna has told a judge she wants to "heal the wounds" opened in a dispute with ex-husband Guy Ritchie over the future of their 15-year-old son Rocco.

In a hearing at the High Court in London, a lawyer for the singer told Mr Justice MacDonald that she wanted to end litigation which has led to a public and acrimonious dispute with the British film director.

Revealing the 57-year-old pop star's hopes for the future at a private hearing in the Family Division, David Williams QC said: "She doesn't wish for these proceedings in England to continue any longer than necessary.

"What she has always sought to date is to find a way in which this family can come together to heal the wounds which have been inflicted on the family in the past four months or so.

"She wants to chart a course for Rocco and the family to help put this behind them and restore peace to the family."

He added that Madonna didn't see the situation "in as simple terms as Rocco does" by simply saying "yes to Rocco".

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have taken their custody battle to court

He said: "That is not her role as a mother and a parent. She believes one has to look at all the aspects of the position the family find themselves in.

"The proceedings here are not just about her and Rocco.

“There are other family members have been profoundly affected by the decision that Rocco and Mr Ritchie took in November last year."

The teenager is understood to have refused to return to the US after visiting London late last year.

Mr Williams said of his client: "When she gets back to New York, the family will settle back into their life.

Guy Ritchie with his wife Jacqui Ainsley Photo: Getty

"She hopes then the family will get together over Easter and start the process with all of them involved in trying to reach a resolution to this problem."

He added that should also include Mr Ritchie travelling to the US – where parallel family court proceedings are in progress.

The court heard Mr Ritchie has declined to visit America, fearing he could be arrested, and has instead proposed a "round table" meeting in London involving lawyers.

However, Mr Williams said there was no attempt being made to issue an arrest warrant.

Mr Williams added: "They need to trust each other and what she hopes is that this will reassure Rocco that what she wants and has always wanted is the best for him."

As the judge finished hearing evidence in the custody case, he said he now had to decide whether the proceedings launched by Madonna in England should end - or whether he should make decisions on Rocco's welfare.